Tiki Bars
The Shag Store - Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California, United States
The Shag Store opened in 2009 in downtown Palm Springs. The store exclusively sells merchandise and prints created by the artist Shag (Josh Agle). Shag lived in Hawaii as a child and has long been a fan of Tiki style, and Polynesian Pop imagery makes frequent appearances in his work.
There was a second Shag Store location in West Hollywood, but it permanently closed as of May 31st, 2020.
The Warehouse
Marina del Rey, California, United States
The Warehouse was opened in 1969 by Burt Hixon, of Beachbum Burt's in Redondo Beach. In recent years the restaurant has been owned by Lee and Martha Spencer; Lee Spencer passed away in October 2016. The elaborate decor is much more nautical rather than true "tiki", but with a strong Polynesian lean. The building is designed to look like an old wharf building, surrounded with mature palm trees and a wooden walkway entrance over a lagoon with live turtles. Inside, the main dining room has several tables inside large shipping crates, and a second level mezzanine with small tables rings the room. In recent years, the bar has been rechristened a "tiki bar" though the tiki is minimal and the decoration is more nautical flotsam and jetsam and shipping crates. The Warehouse is most well-known for their souvenir signature barrel mug, still available today. The food menu is very traditional upscale steak and seafood fare. A small number of tropical drinks are available.
The Warehouse is also the location of the Shipwrecked tiki bazaar and social event, started in 2019, which celebrates artists, tiki craftspeople, and plays host to live music.
*NOTE: Discussions of development make the future of this location uncertain but they are still open as of September 2024. If you have not visited it yet, don't wait too long!
The Shore Leave
Old Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Closed)
The Shore Leave opened in the Danforth neighborhood of Toronto in November 2015. Closed on April 15th, 2020 as result of the Covid crisis and their inability to pay their rent.
Mata Hari Bar
Zürich, Switzerland
Mata Hari Bar has been in the Gewerbeschule quarter of Zurich since 2004. The room is ringed with plush red velvet seating, with walls lined in bamboo. The bar back is flanked by two large, carved tikis.
Tiki Philly
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Closed)
Tiki Philly opened in July 2016, near the Philadelphia City Hall.
The decor was simple: an orange wall covered with brightly-painted inexpensive tiki masks, and a painted mural on the side. A short menu of tiki drinks was offered, a mix of traditionals and new creations, and there was a small selection of food.
Closed in March 2020.
El Polinesio - Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos, Cuba
El Polinesio is across from the Plaza de Armas in Cienfuegos. The is not the location that was formerly a Trader Vic's -- that El Polinesio can be found in Havana, Cuba. Though the decor is less elaborate than the Havana location, it has plenty of carvings that appear to be at least partially inspired by Polynesia.
Ohana Tiki Lounge
Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong SAR China (Closed)
Ohana Tiki Lounge (formerly known as Mahalo Tiki Lounge) opened in 2015 in the Wan Chai section of Hong Kong. It was owned by Max Traverse, who also owned Honi Honi in Hong Kong (and later opened the Maka Hiki Tropical Bar & Grill in its stead). The extensive drink menu was mostly new tropical creations, including bowls for sharing, though some classic tiki drinks made appearances as well. Many drinks were served in tiki mugs. A small menu of poke was available, including a set lunch deal. The sleek decor was heavy on bamboo, with tiki masks.
Closed @ January 2023.
Wauwatiki
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States
Wauwatiki was opened by owners Peter Panagos, James Findlay and Jason Growel in April 2016 in Wauwatosa, a town just to the west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The menu includes tiki drinks and small food plates. The decor includes thatch-covered booth seating lined with bamboo, and there is a rounded A-frame entry. The walls are painted with subtle tiki motifs.
Wauwatiki suffered a minor electrical fire in September of that year, and was closed for repairs until November 2016.
Tangaroa Hawaiian Bar
Lisboa, Portugal (Closed)
This bar was located right next door to Bora-Bora in Lisbon.
It was open at least as late as 2015.
Later, home to Charm Bar. Now home to Oxalá as of 2022.
Bora-Bora - Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal (Closed)
This location operated from 1984 until 2011.
The site is now home to Club Noir since @2014, which kept some of the lighting fixtures and tile-work from the former Bora Bora, so there are traces to be seen if you are interested.
There is also another location, Bora Bora on Av. Almirante Reis, just to the north in Lisbon.
False Idol
San Diego, California, United States
False Idol opened September 3rd, 2016 in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood. It is owned jointly by Martin Cate of Smuggler's Cove and Consortium Holdings (owners of neighboring Craft & Commerce).
The ceiling is crusted with lit glass floats. The walls are covered with panels carved by legendary tiki artist Bosko. One particularly large and noteworthy vintage tiki (seen below) and attributed to Mexican artist Deme Chavez (carved from South American hardwood in the 1950s) stood proudly in the Hanalei Hotel garden atrium for decades but now has a new home at False Idol.
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made up to a month in advance.
Tiki-Ko & The Sinking Ship
Bakersfield, California, United States
Tiki-Ko opened in Bakersfield in June 2016, and is owned by Roy Scarazzo and Sonya Gamargo. The interior, designed and built by Danny "Tiki Diablo" Gallardo, features vintage Witco pieces, beachcomber lamps, turquoise blue upholstery, and artwork by Tiki tOny. A full slate of traditional tropical cocktails is on offer, and there is a souvenir logo coconut mug available.
In June 2021, The Sinking Ship, a downstairs bar level, was opened. This basement bar, which has a capacity of 70 — more than twice the upstairs bar — has a mix of first come first served seating, and seven reserved areas, which can accommodate parties of two (like Quint's Cove) up to eight guests (Banana Crate Booth, which requires a $100 deposit good toward the bar tab). The entrance for The Sinking Ship is a few doors down from the main Tiki-Ko entrance at the corner. The Sinking Ship is packed with great details, from the Papua New Guinea masks throughout, to the sawfish rostrum hanging behind the bar, to the giant container of "Torpedo Juice" at the end of the bar. Flicker flame bulbs add atmosphere. The main ceiling is a giant map of the Caribbean, but other parts of the room have different ceiling treatments, including aged lauhala matting and corrugated metal papered in old Japanese newsprint. And there is something new to notice on each visit...